Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/148

enough to repair it. Every Christian aboue fifteen years of age, pays a Piaster and a half tribute to the Grand Signor, who is Lord of the City; and he sends a Basha that lives in the ancient City call'd Frink-Hessar. However the Kan of the Lesser Tartary extends his Jurisdiction as far as the Gates of Kaffa.

From Kaffa to Assaque, miles 70

Assaque is the last City in Europe, belonging also to the Grand Signor. By it runs a great River of the same name, the other side being in the Territories of the Duke of Muscovy. Down this River come the Cossacks that do so much mischief to the Turks. For sometimes they come with threescore or fourscore Gelia's which are a kind of Brigantines, the bigger sort of which carry a hundred and fifty men, the less a hundred. Sometimes they divide themselves into two parts, one of which makes Havock toward Constantinople, the other Ravages the Coast of Asia, as far as Trebizond.

The Coast of Europe bord'ring upon the Black Sea is 861 miles in length.

From Constantinople to Neapoli, miles 250

In this City are made the greatest part of the Galleys and Vessels that belong to the Grand Signor.

From Neapoli to Sinabe, miles 250

From Sinabe to Ouma, miles 240

From Ouma to Kerason, miles 150

From Kerason to Trebisond, miles 80

From Trebisond to Rise, miles 100

From Rise to Guni, miles 100

The City of Guni belongs half to the Grand Signor, and half to the King of Mengrelia, with whom he keeps a good Correspondence, because the greatest part of the Steel and Iron that is spent in Turkie comes out of Mengrelia through the Black Sea.

The only good Ports upon the Black Sea from Constantinople to Mengrelia, are,

Quitros, Sinabe, or Sinope, Onnye, Samsom, Trebisond, Gommé.

The Haven of Quitros is very deep, and the Vessels lie shelter'd from the winds, but the entrance into it is very bad, which only the Pilots of the place, or they who have often accustom'd themselves to that Trade can only find out. It seems that anciently there had been most stately Buildings round about the Port; and several noble Pillars are to be seen all along the shore, not to speak of those which have been Transported to Constantinople. Near the City toward the South stands a high Mountain, whence there flows good store of excellent Water, which at the bottom gathers into one Fountain.

To go from Constantinople for Persia by Sea, you must embark at Constantinople for Trebisond, and many times for Rise or Guni, which are more to the North. They that Land at Trebisond go directly to Erzerom, which is not above five days Journey off, and from Erzerom to Erivan or Tunis. But there are few that will venture upon this Sea where there is no good Anchorage; besides that it is subject to prodigious Tempests, from which there are very few good Ports to defend them; which is the reason it is call'd Cara-denguis, or the Black Sea: The Eastern people giving to all things, mischievous and dangerous, the Epithet of Black.

They that are Bound for Rise or Guni, go to Teflis the Capital City of Giorgia, and thence to Erivan, for though the way be bad, yet it is far better and smoother than the Road to Tauris.

The principal places from Teflis to Erivan are these, together with their respective distances.

From Teflis to Soganlouk, leagues 3

From Soganlouk to Senouk-kupri, leagues 7

From Senouk-kupri to Guilkac, leagues 7

From Guilkac to Daksou, leagues 6

From